Golden Boy CEO: Victor Ortiz didn't quit vs. Josesito Lopez

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY

When Victor Ortiz did not answer the bell for the 10th round Saturday night in his intense fight against Josesito Lopez, critics suggested that maybe this was just Ortiz reverting to his old self, quitting on his stool, as he did three years ago against Marcos Maidana.

By Tom Casino,, Showtime

Victor Ortiz looks dazed and said he could not close his mouth after his fight against Josesito Lopez Saturday night. He was also bleeding internally, and had surgery Sunday night for multiple fractures in his jaw.

Victor Ortiz looks dazed and said he could not close his mouth after his fight against Josesito Lopez Saturday night. He was also bleeding internally, and had surgery Sunday night for multiple fractures in his jaw.

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Especially after it was discovered that "Vicious" Victor had not one but two fractures of his jaw and severe bleeding. The fighter had successful surgery Sunday night at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, is doing well and is expected to take about six weeks to recover, Schaefer said. When he will fight again is anybody's guess.

"A lot of people felt that, 'Oh, there he goes again, the quitter,' but that is not a fair assessment," Schaefer said Monday, noting that Ortiz was ahead on all three scorecards. "People who saw that fight know Ortiz is one of the most entertaining fighters in the world. He comes to fight. It was a terrific fight; it was back and forth, and Victor was ahead on the scorecards. But with the broken jaw — and it was bleeding — there's no way he could continue.

"And those who say, well (Muhammad) Ali (fought with a broken jaw against Ken Norton in 1973), it was different times, different circumstances. I talked to the ringside doctor after the fight, and he was telling me it was very severe, internal bleeding, and he said it's very dangerous, that Victor could bleed out."

Schaefer said people need to remember that boxing is a only sport and entertainment, not life or death.

"All these macho guys who say, 'Oh, you need to be willing to die in the ring,' I mean, who the hell are those people?" Schaefer said. "They're idiots. It's a sport, these are human beings, it's entertainment. Those people that say that, they've never taken a punch, what do they know?

"He fought a very courageous fight, and the last thing he deserves is criticism."

Ortiz was scheduled prior to the Lopez fight to take on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Sept. 15, provided he won or drew.

But since Lopez won, Schaefer said it would be a slap in the face not to consider "Little Jose," who's normally a 140-pounder, for the 154-pound title fight against Alvarez, if he desires.

And Schaefer indeed received an e-mail Monday afternoon from promoter Dan Goossen that he would like to discuss Lopez against Alvarez.

"I will certainly add his name to the list of the existing three names we have, and discuss them with Canelo and his team," Shaefer said, not revealing the short list. "If (Lopez) feels his Rocky moment can continue and he feels like he can beef up and challenge Canelo for the world title, then more power to him."

Schaefer said he will discuss the possibilities with Alvarez and his team on Tuesday and expects to know by Wednesday or Thursday who the opponent will be.

The Sept. 15 fight, which has the formidable task of going head-to-head with the HBO pay-per-view title fight between undefeated WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and lineal middleweight champ Sergio Martinez, could be a PPV fight, but most likely will be aired on Showtime or CBS.

It would be fitting, Schaefer said, if CBS aired the fight.

"It would be a historic moment because it was the 1990s the last time live boxing was on network TV," Schaefer said. "It would be very fitting that Mexico's No. 1 superstar, who's fighting on the largest network in Mexico — Televisa — would be the one to bring boxing back on network television here in the U.S. on Sept. 15, which we know is Mexican Independence (weekend)."

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